Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-09-29
ARMY ANECDOTES.
Bold Boys of Both Bclligerents Tell OF
Battles, Bullets, Bayonets, and
Boiled Beans.
Soldiers and Sailors Stirring Stories
of Solid Shot and Screaming
Shells.
I'm Report to Cod the Reason
Why
BY J. p. PRIcKETT.


The assault On Port Hudson was pending In
ehi5 assault colored troops were to receive their
fr6t baptism OF blood" II was n races test of
their fitness for freedom. The white Colonel of
coloted regiment, himself in arrest, and hence
could not command them in tho battle called
the coiored color-bearer to him and iInplored
him TO not dtshonor tho flag and bring reproach
upon his race by proving recreant to tluty
Hero and patriot that he Was this lowly reure
sentative oi lowIy md dospised rGce replied ::
IN bring those eoors back with honor or re-
port to God the reason whyi" He reported to
God.l :
There like ebon statues in the starlight stood
the "Black Brigade
As adown the ranks tho Colonel strobe, and
walking, silent prayed:
Prayed that God might till with pntrios zeal
each dnrken'd soul, mud light
In eaeh lowly breast bright pathway to FREQ
That these newborn sons Of Freedom in whose
swellng hearts and breasts
burned the memories of centuries of bondage
and OF wrong
In the moirows dreadful slaughter might, as
heroes, bear the tests
In their races vindication might be brave
and true, and strong
Over yonder in the moonlight aoated out the
stars and Bars y
Here tho BLACK BrigaGer in silence stood ha
meath the Stripes and Stars
over there We're trained artill'rymen asleep by
silent guns;
Here We're loyal hearts in swelling breasts of
Freedoms newborn sons,
hul5cu CuntUelhOO1 to manhood by the
stroke of patriot pen,
Wond ringly and sometimes doubling loyal
hearts looked on to SEQ
II those slaves, and serls, and chattels lifted to
the plane of men,
In the shock of strife and battle won their
right to liberty.
Twas the morning OF the battle and the Colo
neis heart was sore;
knowing well that with tho rise OF sun tho can
mons awful roar
Would roverberate froIn hill TO plain and Death
in blood arrayed,
Stalking grim in smoke of conflict would assail
his BLACK Brigade"
Would they provo by deeds of valor in tho car
mage of Wars stnec,
That their race despite its bondage was en-
titled to be frecp
Would they write in bloody characters on His.
try's living page?
Write a races right to Freedom races
destiny?
Grimly stood these erstwhile chattels-frecmen
now, of dushy hue
Bay nets gleaming in the starlight; what their
thoughti--ah, no one know
Would they stand the test of freeinen? Would
they craven prove and quail?
Would they stains of slavery wine out in the
battles leaden hail2
Had the iron rnst of bondage entered deeply in
the soul?
Had tho cruelty of centuries the springs of
manhood drted2
Would they in the blood of conflict and the
battles awful roll,
Prove, despite the years of bondage, patriots,
heroes, truo and tried?
Said he to tho color -bearer, and his voice was
earnest low
Ere the coming day is ended patriot blood will
freely tlow;
In the wild assault on frownIng guns, think
only of the Years
OF your rnce's cruel bondage, of its sroans, and
cries and tears
'Tis the starry flag OF freedom, that YOU bear
alolt to-day;
Bear it bravcly in tho conflict and Your race
Is ever free;
Do not falter; boar it proudly in the thickcst Of
the fray
Let this day in blood inauguratc your race S
Jubilee"
Then up spoke tho color-bearer and his face in
stnriights CLEAN,
Giow'd with patriot fire and ardor, as the past
horTid dream
Drifted by with all its cruelty, its bondage and
its wrong,
And his voice showed in ita earnest tones that
his heart was true and strong,
Though my race has been in serfdom, yet
we're r,..,iien i,ere to-t,i tit,5A
And tho Stars and Stripes our beacon light
tia: CLEANS athwart the sky
Yes, III bring IL back honor bear 1t bravely in
the right
Or beyond the mystic river tell to God the
reason why
Twas horrid day of slaughter, and the crash
OF shot and sholl
Told that men We're bravely battling for the
cause they loved so well.
a shout, a cheer, q wild assault-nnd then the
Stripes and Stars"
Floated proudly from the ramparts whore had
waved tue Scars and Bars"
Brayely fought the dusky Black Brigade; in
blood nad rent the chains,-
Chains of slavery from fetterd race; and
where, in blood, they'd trod.
Lay, in death, the color -bearer-his life's blood
the banner stains
Ah, beyond the silent river, he's reporting now
to God
--Cbicd1o LeIner